The famous
opening words of Charles Dickens's most exciting and popular novel
perfectly capture the essence of the French Revolution. Swept up in the
tide of cruelty and bloodshed are Charles Darnay, the innocent victim
condemned for the crimes of his aristocratic uncle, and Sidney Carton,
his mysterious and disreputable double. Linked by their love for the
same woman, fate hurls them into the dangers of Paris, where they must
fight for their lives against the citizens’ thirst for revenge.

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Quotes & Awards

[A Tale of Two Cities] has the best of Dickens and the worst of Dickens: a dark, driven opening, and a celestial but melodramatic ending; a terrifyingly demonic villainess and (even by Dickens’ standards) an impossibly angelic heroine. Though its version of the French Revolution is brutally simplified, its engagement with the immense moral themes of rebirth and terror, justice, and sacrifice gets right to the heart of the matter . . . For every reader in the past hundred and forty years and for hundreds to come, it is an unforgettable ride.from the Introduction by Simon Schama

Listener Opinions

Cerimar Olivares | 2/16/2014

" As the first book that I've read of Dickens, it did not disappoint. I loved the historically accurate background and the characters have left imprints in my heart and mind. Yes, on some parts it was a bit slow and I can't deny the fact that I absolutely abhorred reading the parts about Lucie and Charles, they were so bland and in my opinion, just page-fillers with no actual sub-plot. Personally, I believe the real story was in France where the war raged on. The last hundred pages or so picked up quickly and despite knowing what would happen, the ending didn't break my heart any less. Still can't think about it without bursting into tears. Perhaps it was the outside knowledge on Sydney I'd had before reading or all the connections to other characters I love, that made me love him so dearly but in all honesty, his whole being attributes to a huge portion of my new-found love for this book. Nevertheless, I loved the book and it's inspired me to actually pick up my dust-collecting copy of Great Expectations. As far as classics go, Charles Dickens is pretty high on my list. "

Jenn Johnson | 2/15/2014

" By far, my FAVORITE Dickens novel, behind Oliver Twist. "

Giannina Gomez | 2/14/2014

" God it was good. I loved it soo much . I can see why tessa and will loved it as well. Sometimes I wish I lived in those eras so men can talk to me that way lol :D "

Missy | 2/14/2014

" This books is one that sticks with you long after you've finished. I've read it countless times an still can't get enough of it. "

Jamie | 2/13/2014

" It took me a month to read this book, of and on. It needed the time. I forget how wonderful Dickens' writing is. How descriptive. How brilliant. How truthful. The language isn't written like this anymore. We don't have the patience for it anymore. But, if you have the time to give, this is a story worth savoring "

Megan | 2/11/2014

" and by finished i mean im done with this book for class and i wont be touching it again for a while. The bits i read were fantastically written, but class deadlines were impossible to meet. "

Tim | 2/10/2014

" crazy how different my reading of this was this time from years ago when i read it. brilliant stuff. "

Manar | 2/8/2014

" I love the unexpected end ,it is a sacrified ,true love one "

Allison Cawthon | 2/5/2014

" This is not my first time reading Dickens, but every time I read him, I'm shocked by the truth in his words. My favorite novel so far is Oliver Twist (and I even had the pleasure of playing Mrs. Bedwin in the musical, Oliver, at my school which is based off of Oliver Twist). I thought this book was boring at first, but as the novel progressed, I became even more engrossed in the book and had to figure out what happened to his characters in this world he so carefully built. By the end of the book, I was completely invested and even cried for Sydney Carton. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I was impressed with how involved Dickens allowed me to be. "

Matt Sproul | 2/5/2014

" At times I had to make myself pick this up and start reading again, but the end is incredible. "

Jennifer Fryer | 2/4/2014

" It's been since high school since I read this but I've never forgotten how much I loved it. "

Keenan | 2/3/2014

" Not my favorite book. If your looking for a book with no action or adventure, read this book. A little boring. "

With the Ranks | 2/3/2014

" sydney carton is my dogg "

Audrey Cornelison | 2/2/2014

" Whew, I'd forgotten how much concentration it takes to initially get into Dickens! Plus, even though the first third of the book is necessary background, I thought it could have been much shorter and to the point. Eventually tho, I got my time and money's worth: this was a pretty fabulous book. Other than the excessive detail, some of the over the top dramatics were tiring, but Dickens wasn't writing for a 21st century audience. On the other hand, all the fun plot twists and mysteries and connections were excellent, and even though Lucie's character wasn't as developed as it could have been, I think her actions and words showed that she was definitely worthy of love. Sydney was great of course, but my favorite character was definitely Mr. Lorry. I'm delighted to have this one on my bookshelf! "

Dr. Michael Galvin | 2/2/2014

" The problem I have with Dickens (and Hardy for that matter) is the wordiness. My God, it takes Dickens three pages to say what Hemingway would say in two sentences. "

Maura | 2/2/2014

" Just an all time wonderful book. I read this in high school and loved it! I want to read it again now as an adult. "

Jennifer Fryer | 2/1/2014

" It's been since high school since I read this but I've never forgotten how much I loved it. "

" It would have been a good book if it were half as long. I found myself skimming the uselessly long paragraphs at the end. We GET it, Dickens. You were paid by the word. "

Athena | 1/26/2014

" Well I quite liked it. I enjoyed how Mr. Lorry was like the glue for everyone, seeing snipits of people that no one else saw. I loved reading about Sydney Carton, who's self confidence was the ruin of himself, but his willing heart was his redemption. All in all, it was a good read. "

Samar Fawzy | 1/26/2014

" it would be ridiculous to write a review about a masterpiece. "

Ailidh | 1/25/2014

" What an excellent read! I really enjoyed this book, it was amazing! It needed lots of concentration but, I needed to reread parts of it at times "

Mark | 1/25/2014

" Some classics read well every time. "

Erin | 1/24/2014

" First read in high school and was captivated throughout and still am to this day when I re-read. "

Suchandra | 1/24/2014

" Good story but boring read... "

Tanya Tyson | 1/24/2014

" I read this last Christmas after not having read anything (for pleasure) for quite a while and it felt like my brain was getting a good massage...I had actually forgotten how much I loved Dickens and his beautiful use of language...not to mention the book is like a mathematical equation, it just all clicks into place at the right moment and left me thoroughly satisfied. "

Bobd | 1/23/2014

" It was the best of times. I had a dickins of a time with some padded sections. Still a good read of a novel no one reads for pleasure any longer. "

Lia Marcoux | 1/22/2014

" Oh Sydney. I love you, Sydney. You're my kind of wastrel. "

Andrea Madriz | 1/21/2014

" Kind of sad... But a good book though "

aj | 1/20/2014

" Truly Magnificent. Charles Dickens is a master storyteller! "

Debbie | 1/20/2014

" Masterfully woven, A Tale of Two Cities does not disappoint. Well worth the effort and concentration that reading Dickens requires. This novel has it all! Too many "favorites" to quote, but was touched most by Lucie's thoughts of Sydney Carton, realizing I should adopt them as my own towards others---"I would ask you, dearest to be very generous with him always, and lenient on his faults when he is not by. I would ask you to believe that he has a heart he very seldom reveals, and that there are deep wounds in it...But, I am sure that he is capable of good things, gentle things, even magnanimous things." Love, love, love this book! "

" Great literature book. Dickens is a great example who used sytax, repetition, about all literary devices perfectly. I give it a 4 because. I disliked. How he doomed a character :( great book overall. "

Michael Rogers | 1/19/2014

" Dickens NEVER wastes a character. Every one--even the people that seem to be window dressing--figures into and moves the story or drives the climax. "

Drakeflock | 1/18/2014

" Yea, I'm going back to Young Adult books... This was a real task to finish. I suppose I'm glad I read it--represents the French Revoltion in stark, personal terms, but I'm going to have do the classics over the summer, not in my first year of teaching. "

Gregg Sanchez | 1/18/2014

" Plodding at times, but an intricate plot line that makes the book well-deserving of its place among the classics. "

Catrina | 1/17/2014

" A delightful book from a different era. It was great to read a book from so long ago and get a glimpse of London & Paris before & during the French Revolution. I found Dickens British take on the French Revolution fascinating and wondered how objective it was. Many of the horrific things he describes the French doing were done by the British to the Scottish. But time lets that be forgotten. Definitely worth the read. "

Matt | 1/17/2014

" Got halfway through, gave up. Impossible to maintain interest in this book. I loved David Copperfield, though. "

Rana Zaki | 1/17/2014

" love it ....most amazing novel I have ever read it..Charles dicknes have reached to the max when he was writing it. how do he describe suffer and hope, poor and hopeless people. gentlemen how have paid prices and do sacrifices. chapters love most is the jackle and 2 promises "

Robin LMD | 1/17/2014

" I'm wavering between 3 and 4-stars. I was very pleasantly surprised reading this Dickens and found that in my case, age and experience seem to be my key ingredients for enjoying his work. (My university study of Hard Times was not what I would term enjoyable and is probably the reason I've never picked up another Dickens, save A Christmas Carol.) In a Tale of Two Cities the historical descriptions are brutal - and very good. The same can be said about the Dickensian view on how the oppressed become worse oppressors. I enjoyed how he wove the stories together in the end, and after giving myself permission to glide over some of the more wordy passages (a luxury I could not afford when studying Dickens) I found that I was able to pick up on descriptions and plot points of importance without sacrificing the enjoyment of the story. I am glad I can now say that I have read A Tale of Two Cities..... and even enjoyed it! "

Heather | 1/16/2014

" Much better the 2nd time around. "

Keilen | 1/14/2014

" The majority of this book is careful, deliberate, and occasionally slow setup for an intense and emotional last few chapters. I rarely enjoy reading and analyzing books in English class, but I absolutely adore this book. I teared up a few times, I had excited moments of piecing clues together, and I gasped when secrets were revealed. All in all, a very deep and emotional read. "

Paul Lizarraga | 1/14/2014

" My favorite of Dickens thus far. One of the best endings in literature. "

Rubi G | 1/14/2014

" While I didn't really like this book, I really enjoyed reading about what felt like a behind the scenes of the incidents leading up to the french revolution. "

Tomas Bensoni | 1/12/2014

" It was very interesting to see a personal view of what oppression will do to the downtrodden, and the cruelties the persecuted masses will return upon those who treated them as animals when the power changes hands. "

Emma Hoyle | 1/10/2014

" Only book I've read several times. Best Dickens by far (except for A Christmas Carol, of course!). "

Michael Ruger | 1/10/2014

" This was a really difficult book to read. The book is spilt into three parts, the first and second part were very hard to read . The third part was the best part and the story came together in the end. The plot of the story was missing the whole way through this book, but the word choices and the description of the setting was beautiful. I gave the book 2 stars because of the tough first half and for how long it took me to read it. "

Samara | 1/10/2014

" Assigned during my freshman lit course in high school, I fell in love with this book. Easily on my top list of favorite books, this should definitely be on everyone's bucket list. "

Shadowhunter Girl | 1/10/2014

" First time reading this classic, but I loved it.I love the way Charles Dickens writes; very well done masterpiece! "

Nikki Mohamed | 1/7/2014

" Sydney Carton is my favorite hero ever. "

Cherop | 1/5/2014

" I found the quality of this book rather uneven. I thoroughly enjoyed some parts of it and was thoroughly bored in other parts. If I could give half stars, I would rate this book a 3.5 rather than a 3. "

Samar Fawzy | 1/4/2014

" it would be ridiculous to write a review about a masterpiece. "

Raquel | 1/3/2014

" I hated, HATED this book. It was required reading freshmen year. The only assigned book that I resorted to using Sparknotes for that year. "

Selena | 1/2/2014

" I really adored this book. The whole first half wasn't that great, but I really liked the ending! (: "

Doug Daniel | 12/31/2013

" Very slow start. I nearly gave up on it. The second half makes up for the beginning tenfold. "

Delores Cook | 12/29/2013

" Read in high school, love the first line. Must rereadsoon! "

Selena | 12/29/2013

" I really adored this book. The whole first half wasn't that great, but I really liked the ending! (: "

Darya | 12/22/2013

" Complicated tale of deceit and treachery, rich vs poor, and, of course, revolution and revenge. Now I know where the line, "This is a far, far better thing," comes from. "

BÃ¼lent GÃ¼ven | 12/21/2013

" I learned something about of France freedom war. "

becky | 12/20/2013

" amaaaaaazzzzzziiiiiinnnnnnng! its a must read people! "

Hannah Shuttleworth | 12/20/2013

" Really surprised by how amazing this book is!!! A really great ending!!! "

Lia Marcoux | 12/14/2013

" Oh Sydney. I love you, Sydney. You're my kind of wastrel. "

Emma Hoyle | 12/13/2013

" Only book I've read several times. Best Dickens by far (except for A Christmas Carol, of course!). "

Zhuo Zhang | 12/13/2013

" a permanent reminder of you cj xyn ym... "

Ugo Agada-uyah | 12/10/2013

" i learned more about the tragedies of the French revolution from this one book than from any history book. "

Ken Hastings | 12/9/2013

" What an unexpected pleasure this has been. Reading the Kindle and listening on Audible, I have thoroughly enjoyed the time each day spent with this book. Dickens fleshes out every character to the fullest, weaving a tale that folds upon itself to a perfect, and unexpected, finish. An amazing story. "

Beth | 12/8/2013

" Each time I read it there is something new I notice, and then I realize there is even more to understand. It's quite deep. I'm not a history person but the writing style makes it feel as though you're living it - so its not even the past. Worth the read each time. "

David Adams | 12/8/2013

" Classic Dickens, and a gripping story. "

Laura Elwell | 12/7/2013

" Not an easy read, and slow at first, but it really got interesting. So much to think about. "

novia | 12/7/2013

" I couldn't pass 30 pages...sorry "

Malvika | 12/5/2013

" Nice Plot...but there was so much live description.it sounded boring at times.End was drastic....loved the end.But still a nice book "

Phil Villarreal | 12/3/2013

" Drudgery. Dickens does a good job of establishing a sense of place and time and exposing socioeconomic inequities, but there are way too many uninteresting characters with too little to do. I was hoping for something more focused and dramatic. "

Elspeth Allison | 12/2/2013

" Rather difficult to get in to but in possession of an exciting finish. "

Annie Viard | 12/1/2013

" seriously one of my favourite books by one of my favourite authors. "

Justin Smith | 11/30/2013

" A classic piece of literature that is worth its reputation in this readers mind. I couldn't stand the afterword for the most part though, and thought that Koch was overreaching on some of the themes of the work. "

Julien Loeper | 11/25/2013

" Quite possible the only Dickens book I enjoy immensely. Normally I find his writing dry and bored with itself and his ability to ruin every ending he's ever done often makes his work frustrating, but A Tale of Two Cities is a nice, short and concise read dealing with class warfare and offers some great social commentary. Ultimately it falls short on some plot points but delivers in most aspects. "

Benkurtwilson | 11/24/2013

" This is the real deal. I compare all books I read to this one in terms of beautifully painted scenes, dynamic and moving characters, powerful but not overbearing imagery and metaphors, and well-executed drama. This is my favorite book from one of my favorite authors. "

Miriam | 11/22/2013

" Wonderful... Dickens should be included in the Best Authors Ever List even only for this book :) "

anday | 11/19/2013

" I always expected to hate anything I read by Dickens. I was pleasantly surprised not to hate this. It was actually very good, and I needed a re-acquaintance with the French Revolution. "

Jonathan Agena | 11/19/2013

" A really great storyline. If only Dickens wrote the book in a way people could understand better... "

Annette shumway | 11/18/2013

" Haven't cried this hard in a long time. Loved it. The writing is beautiful and the story is captivating. "

Holly Adamson | 11/16/2013

" I loved it. It was so very good. "

Tabitha Tufts | 11/16/2013

" When I read this book I didn't like it. I found it confusing and depressing. Looking at it again I like it more. You need to focus on characters instead of plot, gives you a good window into history. "

" More of 3.5. The last quarter of the book was perfect, but in typical Dickens style the 1st quarter was so bogged down in detail. In the words of my friend, "I am afraid I will always like Dickens more as a character on Doctor Who, than an actual author." "

Jan Lewis | 10/31/2013

" I did not enjoy reading this book as much as I enjoyed reading Great Expectations. I found the annotations spoiled this book's enjoyability factor. "

Lia Marcoux | 10/28/2013

" Oh Sydney. I love you, Sydney. You're my kind of wastrel. "

Ellie | 10/27/2013

" Read it years ago when I was young for an English lit class. Would love to read it again. A wonderful story. "

aj | 10/26/2013

" Truly Magnificent. Charles Dickens is a master storyteller! "

Marjie Haning | 10/26/2013

" Really a second read, but had forgotten how much work it is reading Dickens...still enjoyed it. "

Tom Elliott | 10/26/2013

" The last third (or so) of the book makes the long setup worth it. Madame DeFarge and Miss Pross, 'nuff said. "

Amy Wolf | 10/22/2013

" I hate Lucy Manet, but the other characters are really interesting, especially Sydney Carton. Love Dicken's hatred of the law & Mr. Manet "recalled to life." A somewhat cursory view of the French Revolution with some too-extended metaphors, but it is still one of Dickens' best. "

Jim Shunamon | 10/19/2013

" Another one of my all time favorites. The use of recurring symbolisms and themes is superb. "

Steph | 10/18/2013

" This was a library reading group choice and I was trying to read it in a hurry. I didn't get very far; too many characters and too descriptive - typical Dickens! I will try again when my mind is free enough to take it in... "

Ahmed Youssef | 10/14/2013

" One of the best novels you can learn from, words can draw pictures too. "

Vidur Kapur | 10/4/2013

" A brilliant novel detailing the French revolution and its ramifications. The suspense increases and increases until the novel culminates in a tense, albeit sad, ending. "

Sidra | 9/30/2013

" I remember reading this book back in 2002, have to reread and see if it will awe me again. "

Roger | 9/26/2013

" Well worth a re-read, 40 years or more after I last read this masterpiece. "

Dan Evans | 9/17/2013

" What is the best book Charles Dickens wrote? --Answer-- The last one you read! "

Athena | 9/16/2013

" Well I quite liked it. I enjoyed how Mr. Lorry was like the glue for everyone, seeing snipits of people that no one else saw. I loved reading about Sydney Carton, who's self confidence was the ruin of himself, but his willing heart was his redemption. All in all, it was a good read. "

Ma | 9/14/2013

" This is my favorite Dickens. Most memorable line? "It is a far, far better thing I do than I have ever done. It is a far, far better rest I go to than I have ever known." "

Leigh Ann | 8/31/2013

" A great book. A must read! "

Vivek Sharma | 8/29/2013

" Amazing book with extensive illustrative language. Loved it "

Rob Lofland | 8/22/2013

" In all of literature, is there any purer expression of love. "

Violet | 7/25/2013

" A high school read. Loved it although it was long and involved but the characters and their struggle to survive the times made an excellent story. Enjoyed reading it in a class where everything was discussed. "

John Bennett | 7/17/2013

" His shortest novel, to me "took off" the first 3 pages. Brilliant account of " the storming of the Bastille ." "

Helaine | 7/8/2013

" I read this in 9th grade. We had to put together some kind of project with regard to the book and my two friends and I decided on a "You Are There" sketch aiming for humor. It was very successful and I certainly remember it and the book because of the project. "

Roshni | 7/4/2013

" Packed with adventure and twists and turns, once I got past the first couple chapters and actually understood what was going on, this was a very enjoyable book. "

Judie | 6/18/2013

" I read this in high school and couldn't stop crying. "

Stephanie | 6/14/2013

" One of my favorite classics! I've read it twice. "

Sarah Messick-Milone | 5/17/2013

" The one Dickens classic I can say I truly enjoyed. "

Amber | 5/1/2013

" This book was great, but Dickens is so time consuming and requires a lot of concentration. He has a very interesting sense of humor but when he wasn't being funny, I was either feeling depressed or daydreaming about the book I was going to read afterwards. "

Peggy | 4/14/2013

" First read as a teen in Lit class and it really opened my eyes to what a good book should be. "

April Rose | 2/25/2013

" Charles Dickens is the first Author I fell in love with through this heart-gripping classical novel. It made me cry and think. I love it. "

Kara Ragan | 2/22/2013

" A favorite from high school and still love it. Challenging read in both structure and content. "

Molly Mckinney | 2/22/2013

" I didn't find this enjoyable as "A Christmas Carol". I only liked Sydney Carton. I really didn't like Lucy. Everyone found her beautiful but she one-dimensional and boring. Only the parts about Sydney and the rebellion were good. "

Bill | 1/15/2013

" Wow, this is a tough read. Once you get the style of the prose it becomes easier. This is one you should read because it is a great story. "

Kellydarryl | 1/12/2013

" WOW is all I have to say! I was forced to read this story in high school, thought I would hate it but I really did enjoy it! I still own the book and I read it a 2nd and 3rd time since! "

Sheila | 12/15/2012

" I read this book when I was in high school years ago "

Rmae | 12/14/2012

" A timeless book indeed! I wish that every people would be like Sydney Carton, a very loving man who sacrificed for his love ones. "

Madame Butterfly | 12/13/2012

" I have very,very mixed feelings about this book. At times I absolutely adored it and then at other times it was the worst book on earth. But all of that laborious reading was worth it in the end. Oh the end!!! It was just so sad!! So beautiful!! Sydney Carton the best character EVER!!!! "

Jessica Tameler | 12/8/2012

" A beautiful, heartbreaking story about human nature. "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known." "

Ryan | 12/4/2012

" Beautifully written, descriptions. I liked that it was to the point. "

Ruth | 11/21/2012

" there is so much here and i keep uncovering more every time I reread it! I love the characters and the language. "

iprefernot2 | 11/12/2012

" "These are desperate times and these are unsavory indivduals who will take desperate measures to get what they want." "

Diana | 10/29/2012

" I am finally reading this and I am ready to be done because it takes so much concentration, but now that I am within pages of the end, I am really enjoying it. "

Hayley Brunner | 10/28/2012

" Quite challenging but the plot was good. "

Barbara | 10/17/2012

" This has more humour in it, and a lighter touch than I had anticipated. Very enjoyable. "

Steph | 10/5/2012

" This was a library reading group choice and I was trying to read it in a hurry. I didn't get very far; too many characters and too descriptive - typical Dickens! I will try again when my mind is free enough to take it in... "

Sarah Messick-Milone | 10/1/2012

" The one Dickens classic I can say I truly enjoyed. "

Marwan Alabassiry | 9/23/2012

" I've read that book four years ago ... And I think that I must read it again . Tremendous story and great characters , Inquisitive non-like experience . In short ; Best of Dickens' novels ever . "

Dominic Brandwood | 9/7/2012

" Not as kaboom as I thought it would be. "

Theresa Weldring | 8/18/2012

" A truly beautiful piece of literature with some of the most memorable lines. Truly moving "

iprefernot2 | 8/13/2012

" "These are desperate times and these are unsavory indivduals who will take desperate measures to get what they want." "

Chantelle Finley | 8/7/2012

" I have no fucking clue what's going on in this book right now. "

Gina Lento | 7/17/2012

" I can't believe kids would complain about reading this book in high school.....this book was amazing! "

Myles Osborne | 7/3/2012

" Sydney Carton is a personal hero. "

Book Addict | 7/1/2012

" This book was sooooooooooooo dry. Good story line but very dry. It might have had to do with the fact that Charles Dickens was a paid author,so he was paid for each and every word. I'm glad he made a living and everything but this book dragged o and on. "

Gemma | 6/16/2012

" When I started this book, I thought that it was going to be tough going. I was so wrong. The story in this book just carries you through. I wish this book had been in my life before but now it is here, it's stuck. Wonderful. "

Natalie | 5/17/2012

" Not my usual type of book. But still very good. "

Aubrey Wynne | 4/7/2012

" This book has it all. Love, action, violence, revenge, and some of the best villains of all time. "

Ann | 3/30/2012

" I have not read this book in 30 years or more, but I remember it being my favorite Dickens story. A true hero in Sydney Cotton and a great look into the French Revolution. "

Vishal Nageshkar | 2/21/2012

" While this is no doubt a classic, I did lose the plot in the middle. But kept going because I wanted to finish this book and read another. "

Noe | 2/14/2012

" Will write my review later. We do own this deluxe edition, great condition. "

Grace | 1/26/2012

" I love this book it is like an old friend I read it once a year. It was the first book I ever read by my self. "

Kyla | 1/17/2012

" An amazing book with many hidden themes and motifs. A little slow going at first, with all the fancy language and long paragraphs, but once I got used to it, I loved it! "

" I loved this book, returning to it after many years and finding new characters I had forgotten, themes misunderstood, and a compelling ending which made me almost miss my tube stop! This is probably one of Dickens' most accessible books as it seems to have fewer characters and a simpler storyline. "

Leeann | 12/12/2011

" It is a very, very, VERY long book so only start it if you have time on your hands. It can seem tedious at times, but in the end is worth it. It's not the most fantastic book, but has the elements that make up most classics and tells a tale of love and hope among evil and despair. "

Roni | 11/27/2011

" this book took me forever to read and normally i'm a fast reader. It didn't get interesting until the third, and last, section of the book, the majority of the rest of the book was boring beyond belief "

Maura | 11/26/2011

" Just an all time wonderful book. I read this in high school and loved it! I want to read it again now as an adult. "

Valerie Nolin | 11/23/2011

" Dicken's more serious side. Occasionally i was bored, but of course a good read. "

Kerry Beavers | 11/10/2011

" The middle section drags but the book three is exciting. "

Rima Berzin | 11/9/2011

" The book that drew me into history. "

Doug | 11/8/2011

" sandwiched in between 2 of the most memorable lines in literature is a fairly mediocre story. it was so much better when I was reading it as a child
"

Barbara | 11/7/2011

" This is one of the best books written about this period in history, along with allowing the noblest quality of man to come forth. "Tis a far, far better thing I do ....."
"

Tanya | 11/7/2011

" This is the second best book I have ever read.
"

Jennifer Deaton | 11/5/2011

" Essentially a soap opera for the times - throughly engaging and exciting. "

Eslam | 11/4/2011

" It was a good book to read, involving the historical events into the book made it wroth reading even more..
"

Frederic Pierce | 11/3/2011

" A book that influenced the course of my life. "

Jwm | 11/3/2011

" This book completely changed how I look at the world, my place in it and the war of populism v. liberty. At the end, I wanted to jump up and shout, "I get it now!"
"

Mary | 11/3/2011

" Dickens was a genius! I read the first paragraph again and thought how current it is. Glad I picked it up again.
"

Squeaky | 10/30/2011

" Dickens certainly uses a lot of words to accomplish his task. I'd like to read this edited by a modern author. Heresy, I'm sure!
"

Chiyomi | 10/28/2011

" I liked it. It was bloody imagery, but a good read.
"

M-C :P | 10/28/2011

" This book takes place during the French Revolution. The language can be hard to understand, but it's one of the best books that I have ever read. Absolutely love Charles Dickens!!!
"

Sendhil | 10/28/2011

" Wow! Extraordinary story telling. I am hooked.
"

Emily | 10/23/2011

" This book's characters irritated me in ways I cannot precisely articulate at the moment, but I did love Dickens' descriptions of the time and place.
"

Julie | 10/18/2011

" This book was hard work in the beginning! I'm glad I pushed through it though. Once I got to the last 1/3 of the book I couldn't put it down. It was so interesting to see how everything turned out in the complicated storyline that Dickens set up.
"

Annmbray | 10/7/2011

" Never realized the phrase "It's a far, far, far better think..." came from Dickens. Happy but bittersweet ending. "

Kelly Jo | 10/3/2011

" In the 8th grade, this book opened my eyes to the unparalleled experience of reading truly great literature. "

puppitypup | 9/21/2011

" It takes a while to get started, but the story and the characters are unforgettable. "

Tim Riddle | 9/15/2011

" One of my most favorites. "

Violet | 9/13/2011

" A high school read. Loved it although it was long and involved but the characters and their struggle to survive the times made an excellent story. Enjoyed reading it in a class where everything was discussed. "

Rebecca Wood | 9/2/2011

" It was hard for me to get through, but I may read it again. "

Bernardo Sulzbach | 9/1/2011

" Full review on my blog. "

Beth | 8/24/2011

" Each time I read it there is something new I notice, and then I realize there is even more to understand. It's quite deep. I'm not a history person but the writing style makes it feel as though you're living it - so its not even the past. Worth the read each time. "

Myles Osborne | 8/21/2011

" Sydney Carton is a personal hero. "

Shachit Iyer | 8/20/2011

" Best sacrifice owing to love ever made. The portrayal of French Revolution is both chilling and interesting. "

Sarah Khater | 8/8/2011

" A book that I never get bored of. And every time it is read, it's almost as if it's the very first time again and again and again. "

Cherop | 8/6/2011

" I found the quality of this book rather uneven. I thoroughly enjoyed some parts of it and was thoroughly bored in other parts. If I could give half stars, I would rate this book a 3.5 rather than a 3. "

Katrina | 8/5/2011

" A true classic! I love dickens :) "

Heather Taylor | 8/4/2011

" I know it's a classic. I was trying to listen to it while I worked and I couldn't follow it at all. Two hours in and I couldn't tell you what is was about so I gave up. "

Joanne | 8/1/2011

" This book is a great book to start your dickens journey as its not very long but totally gripping from start to finish. If you don't think you 'do' dickens then try this . A love story but not of the usual kind but the love between a father and daughter and friend with friend . "

Angela Biggs | 7/31/2011

" This will always be my favorite book because it was the first as a teenager to make me weep and the only one since then. "

Aubrey Wynne | 7/7/2011

" This book has it all. Love, action, violence, revenge, and some of the best villains of all time. "

Rmae | 7/7/2011

" A timeless book indeed! I wish that every people would be like Sydney Carton, a very loving man who sacrificed for his love ones. "

Lauretta | 7/6/2011

" I listened to the audiobook. "

Merrilee | 6/30/2011

" My all time favorite book!!! Ingenious!
"

Lillie | 6/28/2011

" I read through DailyLit emails, a great way to read or re-read the classics.
"

Brenda | 6/26/2011

" I hate Dickens, and have always had a serious dislike for this book. Wrote a paper on it even. Boring.
"

Shams | 6/25/2011

" What a book! What an ending!
"

Dyah | 6/22/2011

" need a lot of vocab skill to understand this book.. for me of course. but after all, it's gorgeous!
"

Other Titles by Charles Dickens:

About the Author

Charles Dickens (1812–1870) was born in Landport, Portsmouth, England, the second of eight children in a family continually plagued by debt. A legacy brought release from the nightmare of debtors’ prison and child labor and afforded him a few years of formal schooling. He worked as an attorney’s clerk and newspaper reporter until his early writings brought him the amazing success that was to be his for the remainder of his life. He was the most popular English novelist of the Victorian era, and he remains popular, responsible for some of English literature’s most iconic characters.

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